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with any accuracy of research. This, I apprehend, however, is what we are every way entitled to expect, from the victory which has been gained by the disciples of Werner. A host of active observers is now, in fact, rapidly forming in this country, under the guidance of the very accomplished leader who has mainly contributed to the success of the cause; and I have little doubt, that, in consequence of his exertions, we shall soon obtain a very minute acquaintance with all the minerological appearances which this interesting country so profusely exhi

bits.

I am aware, however, that a great deal is still to be done in order to give the science of natural history that extension in this country which the captivating nature of the study itself, and the admirable opportunities for its successful prosecution which are afforded by the picturesque features of our landscape, entitle it to obtain. Our collections of all sorts are still in a very defective and miserable condition, and, without these, you will readily perceive that little efficient industry can be expected in this department. It is something, however, to have had the attention of the country very generally awakened to this pursuit; and I have little doubt, that, entering on this study with our characteristic ardour, we shall soon be able to take a distinguished part in that scientific examination of the appearances of Nature which has lately been pursued with such unexampled success by almost every other country in Europe.

5th, Considering, generally, the literary character of the inhabitants of this city, it appears to me, that there is one very obvious feature of difference between the present generation and their immediate predecessors. It is universally admitted, that, towards the latter part of the preceding century, this city was the residence of one of the most illustrious assemblages of accomplished men that ever, perhaps, were known to appear together. The works of these eminent individuals continue to hold the very first rank in the literature of this country; and England, with all her extent of population, and with all the learning by which her scholars are enriched, has never been able to out

strip the excellence which was then displayed by the scholars of this provincial capital. Most of the indivividuals, however, to whom I have now alluded, were scholars by profession; they were devoted either to general literature, or to the cultivation of some particular science, and were universally occupied in the composition of works, for which they looked forward to the applause and veneration of posterity. It cannot be said, that, at the present moment, the scholars of this metropolis are either fewer in number, or inferior in ability, to the illustrious men who immediately preceded them. But there is, I imagine, a very obvious difference between the aspects assumed by these different groupes,-a difference which appears, indeed, almost necessarily to result from the more general diffusion of literary accomplishment. Our men of talent seem less desirous, at present, of being regarded as great authors ;few of them are known to be engaged in works which necessarily require much leisure for their completion ;and the prevailing fashion seems rather to consist in uniting literary accomplishments with professional activity, than in maintaining the single character of men of letters. The effect is the same which takes place in society itself as it gradually advances from imperfection to refinement. That knowledge which is at first the distinction of a few, soon becomes the general inheritance of the community; and accomplishments which were originally valued for themselves, are at last regarded as but necessary instruments for the performance of the ordinary business of life. Such, I apprehend, has been the progress of accomplishment, in so far as the literature of this metropolis is concerned. The attainments which gave distinction to the characters of our fathers have been transmitted, in some instances even with increased lustre, to the more numerous generation who have succeeded to their honours; and though the character of this city, as a seat of learning, was never higher than at the present moment, our most eminent men either unite their accomplishments with an active discharge of laborious duties, or aim rather at improving the taste of their contemporaries, by the dissemination

of their views in occasional publications, than at the composition of great and continuous works.

There is one other feature of the literature of this city to which, before concluding, I wish to direct the attention of your readers. I mean the tendency which it has lately manifested to illustrate the peculiarities of our national manners. Scotland, in fact, has many advantages for the production of an appropriate and national literature. The romantic features of the country itself;-the interesting traditions which the prejudices of the people have almost universally associated with the peculiarities of our landscape ;-the remarkable system of manners and opinions which formerly characterized the inhabitants of this country; and those splendid exhibitions of national prowess, which the record of our history so frequently presents have all combined to fix upon this country a character adapted in a very peculiar manner to become the subject of very interesting and powerful description. The peculiarities of our manners, however, were rapidly fading in the general amalgamation of our opinions and habits with those of the nations which immediately surround us; and it must ever be regarded as a most fortunate event, that these peculiarities have at length arrested the attention of an author who is pre-eminently qualified to depict them with effect-whose influence upon the literary taste of the age has already been established in the most unequivocal manner-and who has been able, by the powerful character of his genius, to render interesting, even to those who are unacquainted with our customs, the language and the traditions by which we have long been distinguished. A vast harvest, however, still remains to be gathered from this interesting field; and your excellent Miscellany, Mr Editor, can seldom be better employed than in accomplishing the work it has already so well begun, by colleeting, for the information of future inquirers, the materials so profusely afforded by a country which, in the picturesque features of its natural scenery, and in the poetic character of the peculiarities of its inhabitants, is not inferior to any department of Europe.

In a future communication I shall

offer some observations on the defects of the scientific establishments of this city; and, in the meantime, I am, &c. P.

ANCIENT CIRCLES OF STONES DISCOVERED UNDER GROUND IN THE PARISH OF CREICH, FIFESHIRE.

MR EDITOR,

As the antiquities of a country must be highly valuable to every one who would possess an intimate acquaintance with the ancient manners and customs of its inhabitants, the following statement of facts may be inte resting to many of your readers :

In the spring of the year 1816, while some workmen were employed in trenching a piece of ground a little to the south-west of my manse, they came to a number of stones, about eight or ten inches below the surface, placed in a regular form. The part of the country in which these regularly arranged stones were situated is very uneven. Three ridges of hills, extending in different directions, terminate on the west in Norman's Law, the most elevated ground in the north of Fife. On the south side of the most northern of these ridges, and about midway between the top of one of the hills and a small rivulet which flows along the strath, there is a lateral shelf, upon which these stones were discovered. This northern ridge extends in a direction from east to west.

From the workmen frequently ineeting with stones of all sizes in the course of trenching, unfortunately the regular arrangement of those above mentioned was not attended to, until two carved stones were cast up, with the figures upon each very entire. This circumstance naturally led to an examination of all the stones, to a consideration of the manner in which they were originally placed, and to an attention to those which yet remained untouched. Upon examination, no other figured stone appeared; but, what was remarkable, many of those taken up were sandstone, while the hill on which they were placed, and all the hills in the neighbourhood, are whinstone rock. Those which remained untouched were set on end, and so arranged as to form two arches of concentric circles. So far as could be judged at the time of discovery,'

the whole erect stones, which were, in general, from a foot and a half to two feet and a half high, were so placed as to make up two figures of a circular, or, perhaps, more nearly of an elliptical form, the one contained within the other. In the centre was a cylindrical stone pillar of the same height with the rest, and near to it were the carved stones.

It is to be regretted that most of the stones were taken up before their number, their regular arrangement, and individual position, were ascertained. This good effect, however, esulted from the discovery of this structure, that it induced some workmen, who were lately ploughing a field about five or six hundred yards due east of the place above described, to conclude, when their ploughs repeatedly struck against some stones, that they had come to something similar to what had been so recently discovered at so short a distance, and to pay particular attention to preserve every stone in its original position. They accordingly proceeded to remove all the earth with the greatest care, and their expectations of finding another curiosity were soon complete ly realized. Upon acquainting me with the circumstance, I went and carefully examined the situation of this structure; attended to its form and arrangement; then took the dimensions of its different circles, and the stones of which they were composed. Its situation, like that of the former, was a lateral flat on the south side of the same ridge of hills, and also at an equal distance from the summit and the stream below.

A

In the centre was placed, in an upright position, a cylindrical sandstone, one foot two inches high, (marked C in the annexed drawing,) and having the diameter of its base one foot. round this stone, as a centre, at the distance of three feet, were sixteen other stones, placed also in an upright position, and in the form of a circle. This circle is marked B. The stones of which it was composed were of various sizes, from fifteen to twenty inches in height; from eight to eighteen in breadth, and from four to nine in thickness. Due south of the centre, and between it and the circle B, there were placed in a horizontal position, two stones containing hieroglyphics in alto relievo, very entire. The remain

ing space between the centre and the circle was laid with pavement. At the distance of seven feet and a half from the same central pillar C, there was another circle of stones marked A, thirty-two in number, placed in an upright position, and very much resembling those of the inner circle B. The stones in both circles were placed close together. Between the circles there was neither pavement nor stone of any description. Neither A nor B were perfect circles, the diameter of A, from north to south, being fifteen feet one inch, while its diameter from east to west was only fourteen feet nine inches; in the same manner, the diameter of B, from east to west, was five feet ten inches, while from north to south it was six feet one inch.

It is curious to observe, that many of the stones here found, like those discovered last year, are sandstone, while none of the same kind can be got nearer than a quarry at Cupar moor, which is seven miles distant.

It is also worthy of notice, that the number of stones in the outer circle A, corresponds exactly with the number of points in the compass, that in the inner circle B there is half the number, and that in both circles a stone larger than the rest is placed at each of the cardinal points.

At the distance of a few yards on the south, there were also discovered under ground two curious whinstones, of one of which fig. 4. is a correct drawing. It resembles in shape the frustum of a cone, with a small projection at the greater end, through which is a round hole. From this, at the distance of nine inches, and also near the base, is a slit two and a half inches in length, and extending inwards about an inch and a half; on the side directly opposite to this slit part of the stone is broken off. The perpendicular height of the frustum is seven inches, the diameter of the small end is seven and a half inches, and the diameter of the greater end is cleven. At the top or small end of the stone there is an excavation, around which is a margin of rather more than half an inch in breadth. From this cavity, which is five inches in depth, end capable of containing a quart, there is a round hole reaching to the bottom of the stone.

The other stone is so much broken that I have not attempted to give you

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inches in depth, exactly double the depth of the perforation on the other. The above described monument was allowed to remain for ten days in its original form for public inspection, but as some people, out of mischief, or from an expectation of finding hidden treasure, were beginning to lift and injure some of the stones, and as no method of preserving them in safety in their original situation could be easily adopted, it was considered necessary to remove them. They were taken up in presence of a concourse of people who had assembled to gratify their curiosity, when underneath the carved stone, marked fig. 2. were found burned human bones and charcoal. A considerable quantity of the ashes I have retained in my possession. George Tod, Esq. of Luthrie, on whose property these ancient circles were discovered, has with much civility presented them to me, and they are now placed precisely in their original form in a wood behind the manse, a good subject for the examination of the antiquary.

It were much to be wished, that, of those ancient monuments which are occasionally discovered in various parts of the country, an accurate drawing, as well as a correct description, were made up, and given to the public, instead of allowing them, as frequently happens, to be destroyed, or consigned to oblivion. By this means the curiosity of many would be gratified, a spirit of inquiry would be excited, and much additional light might naturally be expected to be thrown over a subject, at present obscure, but highly interesting. It is from a desire of this nature, Mr Editor, that I have been induced to lay before you these particulars with regard to the ancient circles above described. With my very limited knowledge of the subject, I am far from presuming to offer any decided opinion, either as to their origin, or the use to which they were applied. I have given a fair statement of facts, and leave it to those versed in antiquities to draw the conclusion for themselves. It might appear odd, however, in a popular work of this nature, were I not to observe to the general reader, that, from Toland's History of the Druids, and the Caledonia of Chalmers, one may naturally be led to infer, that the above described monuments were Druidical

temples, or oratories,-that the excavated stones were for containing holy water, which the Druids, as well as the Greeks, the Jews, and other ancient nations, were accustomed to use,

and that the burned human bones (which were found under the stone marked fig. 2.) were the remains of the sacrifices here offered. If these ancient monuments were Druidical temples, they were no doubt much smaller than those temples of the Druids, of which descriptions are ge nerally given; but we are informed by Toland, (in his History of the Druids, p. 134, Huddleston's edition, Montrose, 1814,) that “ the temples of the Druids are circles of obelisks, or erect stones, some larger, some narrower, (as in all other edifices,) some more, and some less magnificent." Huddleston mentions, in his notes upon the same work, p. 322, "that from the small size of many of the Druidical temples, it is probable the multitude were never admitted within the circle of erect stones, but stood in the outer court, betwixt the circle and the surrounding grove." And Chalmers observes, "that the number and variety of the Druid remains in North Britain are almost endless." "Oratories," he says, p. 71, " existed among the earliest people. These ancient places of worship consisted of plots of ground, which, as they were enclosed, and open above, were appropriated to the public worship of families and villages."

As to two temples being found near each other, Toland and other writers mention the circumstance as quite common. Chalmers, in his Caledonia, (London edition, 1807,) speaking of Druidical circles, says, "Those enclosures are sometimes formed of a single circle, and often of double and treble concentric circles of upright stones. In general, only one or two of those enclosures are seen in one place; but in many districts of North Britain, there are found three, four, and even more, in the same vicinity." Huddleston, p. 305, accounts for two temples being found near each other, as well as their being in a direction from east to west, in the following manner, that, as the Druids acted in the double capacity of priests and civil magistrates, it was naturally to be expected, that they would be provided with a judicial, as well as a re

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